Didn't you say you were planning a trip to China ? I heard the northwest and north of China are experiencing severe sandstorms !   I was planning to go to Beijing first and then go to northwest China ! Looks like I'm in trouble .   Definitely . I heard Beijing was experiencing seven degree strong winds ! That is nearly a record high !   No way ! I don't think I've ever encountered winds that strong ! Are the storms affecting land and air transportation ?   Absolutely ! I don't think any planes are going anywhere . The sand being blown around has cut visibility in Beijing to less than 100 meters . But inseems Gansu Province is being hit the hardest .   That's exactly where I was planning to go !   Well , this storm originated in the plateaus in northwest China . At the moment , that area is calmer . 